The Ilocos Times Daily

20/02/2025

LC Councilor James Bryan Alcid promised to give token/cash incentives from his own personal pocket amounting to more than P100,000.00 to more than 200 students, both winners and non-winners, who competed the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference held in Dagupan City. He also promised to give another cash incentives to those who will be qualified in the national level. He said that this is one way to help and encourage students to do their best in the different competitions they excel, and one way to help the parents who could not afford to give financial assistance to their children especially when they go for regional and national compeititons.
Doms dela Cruz

20/02/2025

AMB BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba formally opens the AMB Beach Volleyball 6.0 in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, which is now on its 6th year participated by all municipalties both in 1st and 2nd district of Ilocos Norte. Barba likewise announced to continue the lawn tennis to be participated by 15 yearls old and below exclusively for boys. He also promised to financially help in the establishment of tennis courts in all the municipalities of the province.

Doms dela Cruz

18/02/2025

PBBM, indauloanna ti kick-off rally ti Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas iti Ilocos Norte

Natenneben iti serbisio ken mapagtalkan. Dayta ti panangdiskribir ni Presidente Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. kadagiti sangapulo ket dua (12) a kandidato ti administrasion a para senador iti masungad nga eleksion kabayatan ti panagsaritana iti naisayangkat nga kick-off rally ti Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas iti Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena. Kuna ti presidente a dagitoy dagiti nasken nga ibotos dagiti umili iti umay nga eleksion nga agserbi a katulonganna a mangragpat kadagiti arapaapna a pagbalinan ti pagilian para iti nabatbati pay a terminona kas presidente.

Rinibo dagiti nagatendar iti nasao a kick-off rally ti Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas a bukbuklen dagiti umili kasta metten dagiti political leaders pakairamanan dagiti opisiales ti gobierno manipud Ilokandia a bukbuklen ti Region 1, 2 ken CAR. Saggaysa nga inyam-ammo ti presidente dagiti kandidatona pakairaman dagiti nagapuananen dagitoy kadagiti nagdududuma a posision ti gobierno a nagtakemanda.

Tunggal kandidato, naikkan iti lima a minutos a panagsarita. Ditoy nga inbinsa-binsada dagiti kalikagumda nga aramiden no maikkanda manen iti tsansa nga agsubli iti senado. Saan met nga nagpaudi ditoy ni Senadora Imee R. Marcos. Ditoy nga inrakurakna a saanna a konkontraen ti presidente, ngem ketdi isalsalakanna daytoy babaen iti kanayon a panangpalpalagipna na kenkuana. Saanna a kayat a mairubo ti kabsatna, ta no kasta ti mapasamak, saan laeng a ti Pamilia Marcos ti apektado ngem ketdi ti intero a pagilian.

Pad-padaksendan ni SPM Bryan Alcid,

ALISTO ti panagadu dagiti mangsup-suporta kenni SPM Bryan Alcid kas kandidato para Mayor ti Siudad ti Laoag. Daytoy met ti rason no apay nga addan dagiti grupo a mangperperdi kenkuana. Kinapudnona, nabayagen nga adda dagiti maiwarwaras ditoy siudad nga issues kontra kenkuana. Amin dagitoy ket awan ti kinapudnona. Iti ababa a pannao, paspasig a pammad-padakes ken pangperperdi iti naganna. Kadagiti kallabes, pinilina ti nagulimek. Ngem kunana a nasken metten a sungbatanna dagiti maibatbato nga panangperperdi kenkuana.

Iwarwaras dagiti kalaban ni Alcid nga no isunto ti mangabak a mayor ket parebbananto ti tiendaan wenno ti Laoag City Commercial Complex. Kuna ni Alcid nga awan ti kinapudno daytoy a damag. Ti laeng aramidenna ket ti mangpapintas ti nasao a tiendaan. Ammo ti amin a mapmapan iti tiendaan nga adu dagiti nasken a maurnos kangrunaanna iti meat ken fish section. A dagitoy ti saan nga inar-aramid ti agdama nga administrasion. Sabali laeng ti ibag-bagada nga no isunto ti Mayor ket parigatennanto dagiti agpaspasada ti tricycle babaen iti panangipatungpalna ti coding. Maysa manen daytoy panangperperdi kenkuana. Mamati a dagiti TODA ket isuda ti backbone ti ekonomia ti Siudad ti Laoag, ngarud nasken a maipaay ti amin a suporta kadagitoy a saan ket a parigaten.

Sabali laeng dagiti iwarwaras da a ni Alcid ket agus-usar ti dummy account a kas kontraktor. Ditoy probinsia ti Ilocos Norte, ammo ti amin a ni Alcid ket maysa a lisensiado a kontraktor, ket gapu ta lisensiado a kontraktor, awan ngarud ti rason tapno agusar iti dummy account. Ipabpabasolda pay nga isuna ti kontraktor ti naperdi a d**e iti Metro Gabu. Ngem mismon a ti DPWH First Engineering District ti nangibaga nga saan a ni Alcid ti kontraktor iti daytoy a proyekto.

Kadagiti sumagsaganad nga aldaw, sigurado nga addantopay dagiti iparuar nga issues ti kasupangil ni Alcid. Ngem ammo ti tao no ania ti pudno. Nalawag kadagiti residente ti Siudad ti Laoag a napaayda gapu ta awan met ti nakitada a napintas a nagapuanan ti “Baro a Laoag”. Pudno unay ti naibaga itay kallabes da Cong. Sandro Marcos ken Gob. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc a “Laoag City deserves better”. Da Bryan Alcid ken Handy Lao a kandidato para Mayor ken Bise Mayor ti siudad ti sungbat dayta a balikas da Manotoc ken Marcos.

10/02/2025

Mayor Richard Degala announces that 600 Balikbayans all over the world that are expected to arrive in Vintar, Ilocos Norte for a Vintar Balikbayan Grand Reunion 2025 with a series of programs and activities on February 11 to 17, 2025.....First time for Vintar to host this International Balikbayan Grand Reunion.....

(Dominic dela Cruz)

09/02/2025

MMSU holds public forum for 8th University President

By Edmar Delos Santos
Chief, Information Services Unit
Mariano Marcos State University

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) hosted a Public Forum for the search for the eighth University President on February 5 at Teatro Ilocandia.

Organized by the Search Committee for President (SCP), three male MMSU alumni with agricultural backgrounds—Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, Dr. Virgillio Manzano, and Dr. Jonar Yago—presented their presidential visions, missions, and plans to MMSU stakeholders.

Following the provisions of Republic Act No. 8292 and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 7, series of 2022, the SCP shall evaluate the applicants based on their professional competence, academic background, public forum and presentations, and the panel interview.

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III said the selection must be taken seriously as the university’s future is entrusted to the upcoming president in the next four years. “We must commit excellence in whatever we do at Mariano Marcos State University,” he remarked.

Presidentiables

The public forum started with the presentations of all the vice presidents of their respective universities, which lasted 15 minutes each.

Starting the presentation, Nueva Vizcaya State University Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training Dr. Yago set the goal of making MMSU a globally recognized center of excellence by 2028. He aspires to lead a move toward sustainable development, transformative education, and innovation that can uplift communities in the country and beyond.

Dr. Alibuyog, the current university Vice President of Research, Development, and Innovation, also aims to continue pursuing MMSU to become a premier university by 2028 through transformative education, impactful research, and inclusive community engagement.

Meanwhile, Dr. Manzano Jr., the incumbent MMSU Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight, envisions the university becoming a top-tier Southeast Asian university by 2033. He highlighted the importance of developing future-ready human capital and contributing solutions for holistic and sustainable development.

Academic freedom, infra, campus dev’t

After each candidate presented their plans for MMSU, they underwent three rounds of open forums, with questions coming from faculty, students, alumni, non-teaching staff, community, campuses, and attendees.

During the first round, the three applicants separately answered five questions from different sectors. Key issues were safeguarding academic freedom, the shortage of classroom and learning spaces, inbreeding, work-life balance, and community initiatives.

Meanwhile, in the second round, different campus representatives asked questions. Concerns included international accreditation, leadership styles, and plans for the Currimao, Paoay, and Dingras campuses.

In the last round, Dr. Yago was asked about his stand on budget transparency, Dr. Alibuyog on student activism, and Dr. Manzano on facilities and policies that need improvement.

“Systems are in place”

MMSU OIC-Presdient Prima Fe R. Franco thanked CHED Chair De Vera and Commissioner Agrupis, the 7th university president, for the commission’s all-out support of the university and for gracing the public forum.

Dr. Franco also commended the applicants for offering their services to the university and challenged the next president to continue leading in holding high the Green and Gold. “Please take good care of our beloved institution,” she said.

“I assure you that processes, systems, and operations are in place because we are ISO 9001:2015 certified,” Dr. Franco added.

Following the public forum in the morning, the SCP conducted a closed-door panel interview in the afternoon with the applicants at the MMSU Office of the President.

Leading the SCP is Atty. Ryan Estevez, OIC-Executive Director IV at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) UniFAST. The committee is also joined by Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, President of the Philippine Association of State University and Colleges and Batangas State University, and Dr. Christine Ferrer, Director of CHED Region 1.

Mr. Oscar Torralba, representing the private sector, Dr. Edrian Saraos, Vice President of the MMSU Faculty Association, Inc., Mr. Ritz Ray Ilutrisimo, Secretary for Finance of the University Student Council, and Mr. Maynard Francis Bumanglang, Vice President of the Federate Alumni Association, Inc., are also part of the SCP.

The SCP’s secretariat is composed of Ms. Desiree Mae Abalos, SUC Technical Staff of the Office Chairperson, Mr. Francis Estevez, CHED UniFAST staff, and Prof. Emile Kathleen Aguilar, MMSU University and Board Secretary.

At the next MMSU Board of Regents (BOR) meeting, members will select the new university president, carefully considering the SCP's recommendations based on the public forum and panel interview.

The BOR is composed of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Hon Mark Go. Hon. Stepanie Christiansen, Hon. John Pascual, Hon. Teresita Tabaog, Hon. Pia Maria Barbara Mirca Cua, Hon. Sosima Demandante, Hon. Aleczandrix Mark Cid, and Hon. Gwyneth Quidang.

Former MMSU presidents Dr. Santiago Obien and Dr. Agrupis, BOR, board secretaries, partners, students, employees, and university officials also attended the public forum, which was broadcast live on MMSU’s page. #

Candidates: https://www.facebook.com/MMSUofficial/posts/pfbid028BhuRn8ExuKiJgDmC1VmL9BTdspSaa2ZE6S9HqkvVzvuB757SjVLyjq7Ge3Kmhzdl

09/02/2025

MMSU celebrates 47 years of excellence, innovation, global impact

CITY OF BATAC—The Ilocos Region’s leading educational institution, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), celebrated its 47th founding anniver-sary in a month-long celebration in January 2025 with the theme “Cultivating Minds, Transforming Futures.”

To kick off the celebration, MMSU held a motorcade at dawn on January 6, the university’s founding day, parading through the Batac to Paoay route. This was followed by the opening of the Trade Fair and Garden Show at the InnoTech Grounds.

“The 47th year of MMSU reflects our commitment and dedication to shaping minds and transforming lives,” the university officer-in-charge President Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco told the university community during the opening ceremony.

During the month-long cel-ebration, bloodletting, a national research and development call with the Department of Science and Technology, a motorcade of topnotchers and passers of licen-sure and bar examinations, and business pitching were among the activities.

With the increase in MMSU students and employees engaging internationally, the university featured their experiences through roundtable discussions to inspire the community to engage with such opportunities through the Academic and Professional Journey Across Cultures events.

One notable feature of the university’s foundation anni-versary celebration is a victory concert of Nasudi Chorale, MMSU’s homegrown award-winning choir, which won the Sacred Choral Music Acapella Open Category at the 13th World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand, in July 2024.

MMSU also held its 2nd MMSU Film Festival, featuring award-winning films and alumni stories produced by students and employees. It also premiered the “Arsi,” a biographical documentary film of its alumnus and the National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Moreover, alumni day, the-ater play, awarding ceremony for student and employee achievers, retirees’ day, stake-holders’ forum, and alumni suc-cess stories sharing were held as part of the foundation anni-versary celebration.
As MMSU looks back on its milestones in 2024, Franco high-lighted during the University Convocation that the university continuously performs well in national licensure examinations, with high passing rates and many topnotchers.
“It reflects both the quality of MMSU graduates and the effectiveness of our curriculum,” Dr. Franco remarked.
In 2024, MMSU produced

12 topnotchers in teacher education, food technology, civil en-gineering, nursing, chemical en-gineering, and electronics tech-nician. Dee Vanna Galacgac is the leading topnotcher, as she ranked first in the August 2024 Food Technologist Licensure Examination.

She also mentioned the achievements of various goals in research, production, administration, infrastructure, and internalization.

MMSU attributes its achievements to its former seven university presidents and administrators who molded the university, such as its immediate past president Dr. Shirley Agrupis, now a commissioner at the Commission on Higher Edu-cation.
As the university prepares to welcome its eighth president in the upcoming weeks, Franco said MMSU will continue moving forward with confidence and purpose.

“With the solid foundation laid by those who came before us and the collective strength of the MMSU community, I am confident we will achieve even more remarkable milestones,” she stressed.

The month-long celebration culminated through the Students’ Day and concert, featuring Ilocano and Filipino Artists, including alternative band The Ridleys, Unique Salonga, Magrus, Limitlezz, Vintage Core, Lavenders, and Tihtus.

MMSU was founded on January 6, 1978 through Presidential Decree No. 1279, issued by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global higher education network, rates the university four stars out of five.

(Edmar Delos Santos)

09/02/2025

SEC opens 1st extension office in Northern Luzon

LAOAG CITY—The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened its first extension office in Northern Luzon, located on the 5th floor of the Dap-Ayan Commercial Center in this city.

The inauguration of the new SEC office on Jan. 9, 2025 was led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino, both em-phasizing the importance of the office in further boosting the economic performance of the provinces in Northern Luzon.

“We welcome SEC with open arms and I am hopeful that this will be a positive windfall, not only for Ilocos Norte but [for ] the entire Northern Luzon. We thank you once again our friends and partners from the SEC and please know that we’re here if you need anything, especially our new head of the SEC. We are hopeful that we will have a fruitful and beneficial partnership in the years to come,” Manotoc said.

Meanwhile, Aquino remarked: “This office stands as a symbol of our Commission’s decisive action to spread economic progress and democratize wealth. It will not only promote ease of doing business but also ensure a robust investor protection as well as financial literacy.”

The SEC Laoag EO will accommodate the registration, compliance processes, and other SEC-related transactions of businesses across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of services. It will also facilitate the commission’s investor protection and education programs to safeguard businesses against scams and other fraudulent schemes.

As an emerging commercial hub under the leadership of Manotoc, Ilocos Norte recorded the highest growth rate in the Region in 2023 at 8.6%, marking its 2nd consecutive year as the fastest-growing province in Region I, according to reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

09/02/2025

NGCP is Filipino-led company, clarifies there’s no single off button

There’s no single button that can shut down the power grid, NGCP maintained as it reiterated that it is a Filipino-led company.

Clark Agustin, NGCP Assistant Vice President for System Operations, clarified that NGCP abides by the internal procedures outlined under the Philippine Grid Code.

“Decisions are based on established procedures. Mayroon para sa maintenance at mayroon din para sa emergency,” Agustin said, adding that there are control centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“If you decide to cut off power for entire country, wala pong ganun. Wala rin pong central control point na single button,” he clarified.

Agustin also allayed worries about the China-made equipment used by NGCP for its operation, saying China is a technical partner allowed by government.

“Wala pong midnight deal na nangyari. Transparent po ang NGCP sa lahat ng mga galaw at transaksiyon nito,” he pointed out.

NGCP also reiterated that it is a Filipino-led company, with 60 percent of its shares owned by Filipinos.

The consortium comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, Calaca High Power Corporation, and State Grid Corporation of China won the bidding for the operation of the country’s transmission grid for a purchase price of $3.95 billion.

Monte Oro Grid Resources and Calaca owns 60 percent of the company while State Grid Corporation of China holds 40 percent, meeting the law’s requirement for foreign investors.

NGCP PR

09/02/2025

09/02/2025

Gob MMM, kayatna a masaluadan dagiti kabanbantayan ti probinsia

Iti umuna a paset ti tawen 2025 ket adda pay laeng ti epekto ti makunkuna nga La Niña ditoy pagilian. Segun iti report ti PAGASA, karaman ti probinsia ti Ilocos Norte a makasagprap iti daytoy a sasaaden ti panawen. Itay napalabas a tawen, adu dagiti nagbalin a negatibo nge epekto daytoy iti benneg ti agrikultura. Gapu iti adu a tudo, naruay a produkto dagiti mannalon dagiti nadadael.

Ngem nupay maapekatarantayo iti daytoy a pagsasaadan ti panawen, inbilinen ni Gob. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc ti naiget a pannakabantay dagiti kabanbantayan tapno iti kasta ket maliklikan ti pannakapasamak ti grass fire kasta metten ti forest fire. Saan a mailaksid ti kinapudno a naruay a paset ti kabanbantayan ditoy lugartayo dagiti nauram itay napan a tawen.

Segun kenni Mr. Marcel Tabije, mangidadaulo iti Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), addan dagiti nagbalin a pammilin ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc a maipatungpal nga addang tapno saanen a maulit dagiti napasamak a pannakauram dagiti naruay a paset ti kabanbantayan ditoy lugartayo. Maibilangen ditoy ti pannakanayon dagiti agbalin nga Barangay Ranger Officer (BRO) tapno mabantayan dagiti kabanbantayan ken ti pannakaipatungpal ti foot patrol kadagiti kabanbantayan.

Kalikagum pay ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc a maipaayan ti sabali a pamastrekan dagiti agisaysayangkat iti panaguma (kaingin), panaganop ken dagiti agal-ala iti uyokan (honey bee hunter). Ngamin, naduktalan babaen iti naisayangkat nga imbestigasion dagiti utoridad a kaaduan kadagiti napas-pasamak nga pannakauram dagiti kabanbantayan ket gubuay dagiti agisaysayangkat kadagitoy.

Itay kallabes, ket adda ti binukel a grupo ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc tapno dagitoy dagiti agbalin a katulongan ti Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) tapno maliklikan dagiti mapasamak a pannakauram dagiti kabanbantayan. Daytoy a grupo ket bukbuklen ti Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Marines, Bureau of Fire and Protection ken sabsabali pay nga ahensia ti gobierno pakairamananen dagiti nagduduma a Local Government Units (LGU’s) a masakupan dagiti kabanbanatayan a paset ti probinsia.

Gob MMM, kalikagumna ti natalna nga eleksion 2025

Nangrugin ti election period. Kanayon metten ti pannakaipatungpal dagiti checkpoints kadagiti nagduduma a lugar ti probinsia babaen iti Philippine National Police (PNP). Ditoy Ilocos Norte, adda dagiti lima a lugar a masipsipotan wenno maibilang nga Area of Concern kas maibasar kadagiti napas-pasamak kadagiti kallabes nga eleksion.

Ita pay a kasapa, addan ti nagbalin a pammalagip ni Gob. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc kadagiti amin a kakailian a masapul a sangsangkamaysa a mangipatungpal ti linak urnos ken talna iti daytoy a panawen. Uray ni INPPO Provincial Director PCol. Frederick Obar ket nagapela kadagiti amin a kakailian a makikooperar kadagiti ipatungpalda a checkpoint kas paset ti kampanyada a mangipatungpal iti linak urnos ken talna.

Nupay mamati ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc a datayo nga Ilokano ket saantayo a kayat ti nariribok a pagnaedan aglalo iti panawen ti eleksion, ngem nasken laeng nga agtitinnulongtayo a mangpalagip iti maysa ken maysa tapno iti kasta ket matun-oyan ti ti kalikagumtayo amin a panagbalin a natalna ti lugartayo.

07/02/2025

ATM:
LAOAG CITY PAMULINAWEN CALESA FESTIVAL

07/02/2025

Mayor Aldrin R. Garvida of the Municipality of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte, was interviwed by the local media this morning.

He emphasizped that the alleged encounter between the Philippine army and a certain armed group, believed to be NPA, that occured in Nueva Era yesterday, February 6, 2025, was just an isolated incident which has not affected the peace and order of the said municipality.

"Nagtalinaed a natalna ti ili a nueva era iti laksid nga adda maipagarup nga ingkwentro ti nagbaetan iti NPA ken autoridad," the mayor said.

(Dominic dela Cruz)

31/01/2025

INEC adopts smart metering in 6 pilot areas

By Leilanie G. Adriano

DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte—Government and commercial buildings in five municipalities and a city in Ilocos Norte will be tapped to pilot smart meters in the first quarter of 2025.

The smart metering system will be pilot-tested in the towns of Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc and the city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) acting general manager Cipriano Martinez said.

National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Dept. of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario
Marasigan led the ceremonial switching of the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 15, 2025, at INEC’s main office in Brgy. Suyo in this town.

“This is a bold step in realizing NEA’s modernization initiatives for the rural electrification sector,” Almeda told reporters after the ceremony.

Ilocos Norte, the home of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the birthplace of the father of the rural electrification program, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, is among the pilot areas for the AMI.

The smart meters will measure consumption at short intervals and transmit the data automatically, securely, and without errors to the energy distributor, without the need for the power distributor’s employees to physically read the meters.

The supplier will bill actual energy consumption, not esti-mated consumption, and will be able to identify accidents more quickly and reduce intervention times.

With smart grids, member-consumer-owners of INEC will also benefit from the project as they can monitor their energy consumption easily and with greater flexibility.

“Right now, our transmission loss is about 10-20 percent out of the around PHP200 million that we pay monthly to power generators. With AMI, we hope to save more from transmission loss as we are consuming an average of 34 million kilowatts a month,” Martinez said.

Asked about the investment cost, Martinez said the INEC management would find a way to shoulder the rollout of the pilot project and expand the installation once proven effective.

31/01/2025

Napintas ti rubuat ti tawen 2025 para iti PGIN

Iti napalabas a tawen 2024, mabalintayo a kunaen a napintas ti nagapuanan ti sibubukel a Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN). Daytoy ket babaen iti pannakaipaay ti napintas a serbisio kadagiti amin a kakailian. Pammaneknek iti daytoy dagiti naruay a pammigbig a naawat ti probinsia kangrunaanen ti Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) nga inpaay ti Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Dayta ket babaen iti liderato ni Gob. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc.

Ita ta karug-rugi pay laeng ti tawen 2025, adda manen dagiti pammaneknek a ti pannakairienda ti turay ti probinsia ket da-kalidad. Dayta ket babaen iti pannakabigbig ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc kas maikadua kadagiti Top Performing Governor iti intero a Luzon. Addaan daytoy iti 85% Satisfaction Rating kas maibasar iti inparuar ti Institue for Global Education Exchange and Internship (IGEEI). Daytoy ket pammaneknek a nalaing ken napintas ti liderato ti gobierno probinsial.

Nupay adun dagiti nagapuanan ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc iti probinsia sipud nagtugaw kas gobernador, saan nga agsarday a mangar-aramid kadagiti nagduduma a pamuspusan tapno iti kasta ket ad-adda pay nga agprogreso ti probinsia. Kanayon a makiko-koordinar kadagiti opisiales ti gobierno nasional kangrunaanna kada Senadora Imee R. Marcos ken Presidente Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tapno makaala kadagiti pundo a mausar kadagiti dadakkel ken napipintas a proyekto a mangitunda ti ad-adda pay a panagasayaat ti kabibiag dagiti kakailian iti probinsia. Awanen ti sabali a tarigagay ti gobernador no saan nga ti ad-adda pay a panagdur-as ti probinsia kangrunaanen ti kabibiag dagiti amin a kakailian.

Gob MMM, kalikagumna ti makapatanur kadagiti ad-adu pay nga National Athletes

Balligi ti insayangkat a Basketball Clinic a naawagan iti Grassroots Program ti Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas – Player and Identification & Development iti Ilocos Norte Centenial Arena. Ti nalatak a basketball coach iti pagilian a ni Norman Black ti nangidaulo iti daytoy nga aktibidad. Siempre, naipatungpal daytoy ditoy probinsia babaen iti panangipamuspusan ni Gob. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc.

Iti daytoy a programa, naruay dagiti agtutubo nga adda iti babaaen iti Under-12 category dagiti nabenepisiaran. Iti uneg ti tallo nga aldaw, ditoy a naisuro kadakuada dagiti nagduduma nga skills tapno agbalin dagitoy a dekalidad a basketball player. Kayat ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc a makapataud ti probinsia kadagiti agbalin nga national wenno international basketball player. Iti agdama, addan dagiti kakailiantayo a nagbalin a sikat iti benneg ti basketball ditoy pagilian ken uray pay iti sabali a pagilian.

Inpeksa met ni Gob. Marcos Manotoc ti napalaus a panagyamanna kenni Coach Norman Black iti adu a sakripisiona a nangisuro kadagiti nakipagpaset iti daytoy nga aktibidad pakairamanan dagiti kameng kangrunaanna kadagiti opisiales ti Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas. Kadagiti kallabes, adun dagiti nagbalin a kiddaw ti gobernador iti nasao a grupo a dagitoy ket napatgan nga ensigida. Gapu kadagitoy nga ar-aramiden ti gobernador, sigurado a kadagiti masanguanan, ad-adunto manen dagiti mabigbig a basketball player manipud iti probinsia nga agay-ayam iti Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

30/01/2025

LC vice mayor reports council accomplishments
Wishes for a more active council this 2025

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

LAOAG CITY—Vice mayor and presiding officer Rey Carlos Farinas presented the accomplishment reports of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the year 2024 in his “Chairman’s Time”.

The Laoag council conducted 48 regular sessions and three special sessions. In those sessions, the council approved a total of 155 resolutions and 37 ordinances. Among those passed were 13 appropriation ordinances, one tax ordinance, 138 motorized tricycle operations permits and 277 barangay motorized tricycle operations permits.

A more active council
MEANWHILE, Fariñas is hoping for a more active council for this year.

Firstly, he is hoping to have 100 percent attendance in all of the regular sessions for this year.
He disclosed that the council almost failed to form a quorum on Jan. 7, 2025 regular session, the first regular session for this year.

Laoag councilor Juan Conrado Respicio, who arrived late, “saved” the session. Other councilors present for the said session were council-ors Derick Lao, Jeff Fariñas, Roger John Fariñas, Jayson Perera and John Michael Fariñas.

“Kas makita itay, saan kami maka porma iti quorom a ta no nagtutulag dagidiay maysa a grupon a saan da agatendaren appo awan quorum nukwan ket saan met a maipasa nukwan dagitay rebbeng a maipasan nga importante a pagsayaatan iti siyudad tayo appo ket dakkel ti impact nan saan nga agatendar dagiti councilors,” Fariñas added.

Laoag councilors Bryan Alcid and ex-officio member and Laoag ABC president Roque Benjamin Ablan were on vacation leave; Enrico Ang, Handy Lao and ex-officio member and SK Federated president Christoph Agustin were on sick leave; and Jaybee Baquiran was on emergency leave.

Records show that there were four regular sessions that failed to have a quorum last year.

“Maysa daytoy kina awan iti quorum ket gapu ta napan da amin naki birthday isu dakkel manen nga impact na daytoy,” the vice mayor added.

30/01/2025

New vehicles for the City Government of Laoag

FATHER Recz Clifford Cid of the Diocese of Laoag leads the blessing of the first batch of newly acquired vehicles by the city government of Laoag to be distributed to the following city offices: 3 units Isuzu Dump Trucks, Office of the City Engineer; 2 units Toyota Passenger Vans, Office of the City General Services Officer; 1 unit Toyota Pick-up, Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator; 1 unit Toyota Pick-up, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The blessing was witnessed by Laoag mayor Michael Marcos-Keon, SP members headed by vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, department heads and employees.

Doms dela Cruz